Mechanism to alter clothing to accommodate prostheses and medical appliances

ABSTRACT

Adaptive pants are constructed with a zipper along the pants&#39; outside seams from waist to cuff, allowing the legs to completely open. Inserts used to modify the shape of the pants leg to accommodate leg surgeries and prosthesis are designed to fit into the zippers. The resulting assembly allows disabled individuals to more easily put the pants on and retain a ‘normal’ appearance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC AND AN INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE COMPACT DISC

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a series of adaptive clothing which allows individuals wearing prostheses or medical appliances, or with restricted mobility, to more easily dress and remove clothing.

2) Description of the Related Art

Adaptive clothing with various alterations from otherwise typical design have been around for decades and well-known. Simple designs include a cut made lengthwise in a pants leg to allow for a cast, or pants cut-off below the knee to allow for an appliance fit on an ankle.

With regard to clothing designed to accommodate prosthetics or wheel-chair users, a cottage industry has developed to make custom clothing that fits particular appliances. Companies such as Cast Clothing sell adaptive apparel based on individual needs, focusing on ensuring that the clothing looks right while being worn. Customers of Cast Clothing pick out the clothing they wish to see modified, and then Cast Clothing makes the modifications necessary.

Apparel for skiing and other sports has been developed which incorporates full length zippers from waist to cuff, allowing skiers to remove insulated pants without removing ski boots. (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,888 by Archer.) Pants have also been developed for law enforcement and the military have also been developed which have zippers along the inseam of pants to allow wearers to more easily use the restroom without disrobing. (See U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,716 by Blair.) Pants have even been developed with spiral seems from waist to cuff for style or clothing tightness. (See U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,027 by Chou.)

Adaptive clothing particularly useful in hospital settings has also been developed by companies such as Weber & Weber, which offers gowns with pockets for medical drains, shorts developed with only fasteners along the waist to allow more effective x-rays.

Individuals who need adaptive clothing have yet to see cost-effective adaptive clothing which is easy to put on, remove, and allows for a variable configuration as an individual's condition changes and an appliance's shape changes in response.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a combination of zippered inserts with pants and other apparel which assemble to allow the clothing to be easily donned, reconfigured, and removed by changing out one of a series of standard inserts.

Objects of the Invention

-   -   One object of the invention is to allow disabled individuals to         put his clothing on while in bed, without lifting his body from         the bed.     -   Another object of the invention is to allow disabled individuals         to change the physical shape of their clothing to accommodate         various prosthetics and appliances as their needs change.     -   A further object of the invention is to reduce the cost of         production of adaptive clothing by developing standard zippered         inserts, removing the “custom” aspect of typical adaptive         clothing.     -   An additional object of the invention is to support medical         treatment of areas of a wearer's body covered by the insert, and         allow medical devices to be carried close to an area being         treated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a pair of pants (1), with the zippered seam (2) showing on the side along the side seam from waist to cuff.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a pair of pants (1) and the general shape of a triangular insert (2).

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a pair of pants (1) and the general shape of a rectangular insert (2).

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a pair of pants (1) and the general shape of a pentagonal insert (2).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the foregoing objects and other advantages are attainted by producing pants and other clothing which disassembles into sections or at least has sleeves or pants' legs which have a split lengthwise along the sides. These sections can be assembled to fit a wearer's needs using zippers or other fastening techniques, and can be configured to create clothing sized to fit appliances by inserting a cloth piece in between the sections. This cloth piece is made of the same cloth that the rest of the article is made, with a zipper arrangement of the same style, so that the cloth can be added to the garment to widen a pants leg (or shirt sleeve), either in one area or along its entire length. These pieces are fastened by zippers which are invisible to the casual inspection when zipped together.

The inserts are standardized sizes to meet the expected needs of those who need adaptive clothing. One insert adds a constant diameter to a pants leg (FIG. 3), which accommodates a boot cast. A second insert would be triangular, adding space at one knee in a pair of pants (FIG. 2) to accommodate an ankle fixture. A third shape would be an irregular pentagon that has one point of the pentagon at the top of a pant leg, growing to add room at the knee or other desired area, and then widens the bottom of the pant leg (FIG. 4), giving space for a knee brace.

Other shapes will be added as the market develops and needs arise, but the general approach is to develop standard shapes that can be used with a pair of pants which is made to accept an insert along the full-length zipper which runs down the pants leg.

Though the typical use will be with pants, this approach can also be used with a shirt sleeve or other apparel. Though zippers will typically be the main fastener type used, other types of fasteners might also be employed, such as Velcro, snaps or buttons.

The inserts also allow for medical personnel to treat areas of a wearer which are covered by the inserts by treating the inserts themselves with medicine before assembly into the pants.

The inserts can also have pockets added to them to carry medical drains or other medical devices which are attached in some way to a wearer. Said devices can be placed internally so that they are not visible to casual observation of the wearer, or externally to allow for easier access. 

1) An article of clothing, comprising: a. a zippered seam from one opening in the article to another; b. an insert made of similar material as the clothing that has zippers on two sides with matching construction as the aforementioned zippered seam, such that the zippered seam of the clothing can be unzipped, and the matching insert zipped to both sides of the opened seam to assemble the article such that it has a modified cavity size. 2) An article of clothing according to claim one, in which: a. the article of clothing is a pair of pants, and a zipper is added along the side seam of the pant legs; b. the zippered insert is zipped to the pants, and shaped to change the diameter of a pants leg equally along the length of the pants leg, or providing more space at the bottom of the pants leg, the knee of the pants, or some other area, depending on the shape of the insert. 3) An article of clothing according to claim one, in which: a. the article of clothing is a shirt, and a zipper is added along a side seam of the shirt or sleeve; b. the insert is zipped onto the seam of the shirt, allowing the shirt additional internal volume within the shirt torso or sleeve. 4) An article of clothing according to claim one in which the insert has been treated with medicinal compound to affect a treatment area covered by the insert. 5) An article of clothing according to claim one on which a pocket is added to the insert that can carry medical drains or mundane items as desired by the wearer. 